The move by Embu County Government to streamline muguka (khat) trade a few months ago has started to pay off after monthly revenue collections shot up from zero to over Sh1 million.
This is after the devolved unit relocated all traders from to the new market shed constructed three months ago within Dallas Estate to provide them with a conducive business environment away from the vagaries of weather.
The new market has since then been a beehive of activity as thousands of sellers and buyers flock to the market every evening to mint cash from the lucrative herbal stimulant business.
Area MCA (Kirimari Ward) Ibrahim Swaleh said previously, the county was not collecting any revenue from traders who were scattered at different parts of the town for lack of proper structures.
“In the first month upon completion of the market, the county collected revenue amounting to Sh980,000, 000, and in the subsequent month of July, the collection shot up to Sh1.1 million,” he said.
He said this was made possible by the fact that the market had attracted traders from as far as neighboring Kirinyaga County owing to the conducive business environment.
“This market hosts approximately 3,000 traders daily and has also been a major boost for other businesses in the area such as food joints and shops,” he said.
Traders called for the expansion of the shed to accommodate the growing number of vendors.
They said the space was congested forcing some of them to spread their ware on the road reserve adjacent to the market.
“This place has become squeezed and it is our plea to the Government to expand it to ensure we have adequate working space,” said trader Purity Kari.
By Samuel Waititu
